IP is abbreviated from Internet Protocol. So IP address also known as Internet Protocol address is a unique address used to identify a device on the internet or in a LAN.
Generally, IP address enables the devices to exchange information between them since they contain location information and make devices available for connection. IP addresses facilitate the internet to distinguish between various computers, routers, and websites and are a critical component of how the internet operates.
IP addresses are a set of four numbers separated by a period ranging each number from 0 to 255. For example, 168.130.40.18. A completer IP address ranges from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.
IP addresses are not generated randomly. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) which is a division of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) generates and assigns them mathematically. ICANN is a non-profit organization founded in the United States in 1998 to assist preserve the security and accessibility of the internet. Every time someone registers a domain name on the internet, they engage via a domain name registrar, who pays a nominal fee to ICANN to do so.
Table of Content
The Function of IP Addresses
The Internet Protocol communicates in the same manner that any other language does, by following predefined rules to convey information. Using this protocol, all devices discover, send, and share information with other connected devices.
The device is provided internet access when it is indirectly connected to a network that has internet initially.
That network will be the Internet Service Provider(ISP) for homes and at work, it will be the company network.
ISP provides the IP address for the device.
The ISP gives access to the internet, it is their responsibility to assign an IP address for the device. Therefore, the internet activity done by you is transmitted via the ISP and returned to you through the IP address assigned to your device.
Your IP address, on the other hand, can change. Turning your modem or router on or off, for example, might alter it. You can also contact your ISP and have them update it for you.
When you access the internet over a different network(public WIFI, for example) with your device when you leave the house, you will be assigned a different(and temporary) IP address since the IP address assigned to you by the ISP of the public WI-FI(hotel, airport, etc).
Types of IP Addresses
There are different types of IP addresses for each different category of IP address.
Consumer IP addresses
Private IP addresses
Public IP addresses
Dynamic IP addresses
Static IP addresses
Website IP addresses
Shared IP addresses
Dedicated IP addresses
Consumer IP addresses
Every person or company with an internet package will have two sorts of IP addresses: Private IP address and Public IP address. The network location affects the terms private or public; for example, a private IP address is used within a network, whereas a public IP address is used outside of a network.
Private IP addresses
The devices a person uses at home have a separate IP address. It will be a computer, laptop, or smartphone but also Bluetooth-enabled devices such as speakers, or printers.
The number of private IP addresses in a person's home is undoubtedly increasing with the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT).
A router must be able to detect various devices separately and several items must be identified by one another. As a result, the router assigns private IP addresses that are unique identifiers for each device on the network.
Public IP addresses
The main IP address associated with a person's whole network is the public IP address. The private IP addresses assigned to the devices connected via the network are also included in the Primary IP address in the person's network.
A person's ISP provides the router with a public IP address, as explained above. ISps often possess a big pool of IP addresses from which they distribute to their clients.
The public IP address is the address used by all devices outside your internet network to identify your network.
The Public IP address has two types;
Dynamic IP address
Static IP address
Dynamic IP addresses
Dynamic IP addresses update on a regular and automated basis. ISPs purchase a big pool of IP addresses and allocate them to their clients automatically. They re-assign them regularly and return the older IP addresses to the pool for usage by other clients. The purpose of this strategy is to save the cost for the ISP.
By automating the frequent exchange of IP addresses, they avoid having to do particular actions like re-establishing a customer's IP address whenever they move the house. There are security benefits such as updating the IP address makes it more difficult for hackers o get into your network interface.
Static IP addresses
The static IP addresses stay consistent compared with Dynamic IP addresses. Once assigned by the network, an IP address does not change. Static IP addresses are not required by most individuals and businesses, but businesses that intend to host their servers must have one. This is essential for the business if the business needs to be able to be found by other devices on the web regularly since a static IP address makes sure that websites and email addresses associated with it have a stable IP address.
Website IP addresses
There are two types of website IP addresses for website owners that do not host their own server and instead depend on a web hosting package, which is the situation for most websites. They are Shared and Dedicated IP addresses.
Shared IP addresses
Websites that depend on shared hosting plans from web hosting providers are usually among many others hosted on the same server. This is more common for individual or SME websites, where traffic volumes are controllable and the sites themselves are limited in terms of page count, etc. The IP addresses for websites hosted in this manner will be shared.
Dedicated IP addresses
A dedicated IP address (or addresses) can be purchased with some web hosting plans. This simplifies the process of getting an SSL certificate and enables you to host your own File Transfer Protocol(FTP) Server. This facilitates file sharing and transmission with many people inside an organization, as well as anonymous FTP sharing possibilities. A dedicated IP address also allows visiting your website using only the IP address rather than the domain name, which is important if you want to develop and test your website before registering your domain.
Security Threats Related to IP address
Cybercriminals can get a person's IP address by various methods. The most common methods are Social Engineering and Online Stalking.
Social Engineering
Social Engineering can be used by attackers to trick you into disclosing your IP address. They may locate you using Kype or a similar instant messaging application that communicates via IP addresses. If you use these applications to speak with strangers, keep in mind that they can identify your IP address. Skype Resolver tool is used by attackers. to determine your IP address based on your username.
Online Stalking
Cybercriminals might find your IP address by just following your internet activities. Likewise, from playing games, and leaving comments on websites and forums, your IP address is vulnerable to exposure via a variety of online activities.
When they got your IP address, attackers can enter it into an IP address tracking website like whatismyipaddress.com and can locate your area. To determine whether the IP address is definitely related to you, they can cross-reference other open-source data. They can then check your social media profiles to specifically identify where you live and compare it to the area they found through your IP address.
If a Facebook stalker conducts a phishing attempt to install spying software on individuals with your name, the IP address linked with your machine will most likely confirm your identity to the stalker.
It is very important to understand the dangers and how to avoid revealing your privacy since cybercriminals can launch attacks against you or even impersonate you if they know your IP address.
Risks of Using your IP address by Cybercriminals
Downloading Illegal Content Using Your IP address
Hackers use your identity to download illegal content so that it could not be traced instead you will be traced.
For Example:
To pirate movies, music, and video that would violate ISP's terms of use.
Download or access serious content related to terrorism or child pornography
These could attract the attention of law enforcement to your identity even though it is not your fault.
Tracking down your location
Hackers can use geolocation technology to identify your area, city, and state if they know your IP address. They simply need to research social media to identify your house and maybe rob it while you are not in the house.
Directly attacking your network
Criminals can execute a number of attacks by targeting your network directly. A DDoS(Distributed Denial of Service) attack is one of the most common assaults.
This sort of cyberattack happens when hackers exploit previously compromised devices to produce a large number of requests in order to flood the targeted system or server. This generates too much traffic for the server to manage, resulting in service interruption. It disables your internet connection. These types of attacks are commonly directed against businesses and video game services, they may also rarely be directed at an individual. Online gamers are especially vulnerable since their screens are visible when streaming.
Hacking into your device
To connect to the internet, ports and IP addresses are used. Every IP address has thousands of ports, and a hacker who knows your IP address can try those ports to force a connection. They may take over your phone and could steal your private information. Malware can be installed by a thief if he gets your device.
How to protect and hide your IP address
To protect your private information and online identity, hiding your IP address is an option. There are two main ways to hide your IP address;
Using A Proxy Server
Using a Virtual Private Network
Using A Proxy Server
A Proxy Server is an intermediate server that routes your traffic.
The IP address of the proxy server is only visible to the internet servers you visit.
When those proxy servers provide you with information, it is routed through the proxy server, which the received by you.
The disadvantage of the proxy server is, it should be trusted, or else someone can spy on you through the proxy server. They can also introduce advertising into your browser, depending on which one you use.
Using a Virtual Private Network
When you connect your computer, smartphone, or tablet to a VPN, the device acts as if it is in the same local network as VPN.
A secure connection is used to send your network traffic to your VPN.
You can safely access local network resources even if you are in another nation since your computer behaves as though it is on the network.
You may also browse the internet as if you were physically present at the VPN's location, which is useful if you use public Wi-Fi or wish to access geo-blocked websites.
You should use VPN when;
When using public Wi-Fi
When you are traveling
When you are working remotely
When you just want some privacy
Other ways to protect your privacy
Create unique passwords
Stay alert to phishing emails and malicious content
Use a good antivirus solution and keep it up to date
Protecting your IP address is an essential part of safeguarding your online identity. Taking these precautions will keep you secure from a wide range of cybercriminal threats.
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